WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1918, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE COAL DISPUTE. SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT. (Special Corespondent.) Wellington, Sept. 23. There is a general feeling of relief here at the settlement of the coal dispute on a basis that promises to prove stable and satisfactory, to both parties. The fuel question m both its industrial and domestic aspects has been causing a good deal of inconvenience and anxiety for months past, and the city is breathing easier for knowing the trouble is ended. It is hoped, too, that the better relations which have been established between the mine-owners and the men by concession on both sides will prevent a recurrence of the trouble for many a long year. The conference which preceded the final settlement can hardly help being wide-reaching in its Assults, and may even lead to the adoption of a system of conciliation by mutual concession which ultimately'will supersede the statutory tribunals altogether. That however, is looking rather far ahead. For the present the community is content with being grateful for what has happened.

THE TRAMWAY TROUBLE. The tramway troubla still remains with the people of Wellington, and, at the moment, seems likely to pass through more serious stages before a settlement is reached. The men, like the miners, and, for the matter of that, like all workers who are demanding higher wage's, are basing their ease on the increased cost of living, and, so far, are not without a considerable measure of public sympathy. They arc not threatening a strike, but they are actually practising the "go-sloy" alternative. The car service has been reduced in consequence of the motormen and conductors refusing to work overtime, and the service that remains is running irregularly. The City Council's offer of a 10 per cent, bonus has been rejected, and the men are standing firmly to their demand for a minimum wage of Is 4d an hour The Mayor state's this would mean nn additional expenditure of £12.000 a year, and the men retort this would represent merely their additional expenditure upon the necessaries of life. THE BY-ELECTION.

The cost of living, it is now more plain than ever, is going to be made the chief hone of contention in the Wellington Central campaign. The nomination of candidates is taking plswe today, and though, it is probable one or two of the gentlemen who have announced themselves may restrain their vaunting ambition at tiie last moment, it is pretty certain there will bo three or four candidates on one side raging at the Government for not having kept down the price of bread and meat and butter and the rest, and only one on the other side emphasising the advantages New Zealand enjoys in this'respect. Mr Hildreth, the Government's nominee, has not yet taken the public platform, but it is reported that he is making good headway in the constituency, and that he will not prove the "dumb dog" the people who want to saddle him with all the sins of his sponsors are making him out to be. LAND SETTLEMENT.

Tho telegraphed summary of the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald's remarks at Gisborne on the subject of land settlement ha.s attracted a good deal of attention here and is taken in some quarters to indicate a great forward movement in the land policy of the Government. This is a subject on which the members of the National Cabinet could not be expected to see exactly eye to eye. and an inevitable result of their differences of opinion has heen to keep it in the background during the last few years. But Mr. T) H. Guthrie Succeeded to the portfolio of Lands with ideas of his own, not necessarily in entire accordance with those of his predecessor in office, and people who mav he supposed to be in his confidence declare he has measures in preparation which will make for the closer occupation and more profitable employment of the land of the country. In any effort of the kind he may be sure of the cordial support of his colleague, the Minister of Agriculture.